ONE of the town centre’s oldest buildings is being brought back into use.

The former W W Hunter building on the corner of Edgeware Road and Regent Street will soon have new retail spaces on its ground floor while the upper two floors will be converted into 12 flats.

First built in 1901, it originally included furniture shop William Wallace Hunter and the unit next door had until recently featured a Phones 4 U shop.

Both units have been vacant for many months.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: "Town centres need to adapt to changing shopping habits and the needs of the local community if they are to thrive in the future and the conversion of the former W W Hunter building is one example of this.

"This development shows that landowners and developers believe in the future of Swindon and its town centre and we hope to see more of these examples coming through throughout the year."

Over the past 12 months, empty units have been refurbished and gained new occupants, such as the new Taco Bell in the old Game store and the Swindon Hub community centre in the former home of River Island.

For more information, visit www.swindon.gov.uk/towncentreregeneration